After layering the backing, cotton batting, wool batting, and the top, I basted the edges of the quilt and began to stitch-in-the-ditch. On a longarm machine, this involves using a ruler and a ruler base. I chose to use the Handi Quilter Mini Scallop Ruler for the stitch-in-the-ditch because the ruler is a nice size (8x3 inches) and has little stoppers at each end. These stoppers help line the needle up with the ditch and also make sure that I won't quilt off the end of my ruler.

I stabilized the entire quilt by stitching-in-the-ditch around each border and around the edge of the center block.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

I'm in the middle of a long and drawn out disagreement with my the company that carries the warranty on my stove.

On the bright side, I have had eleven days to explore creative ways to cook with small kitchen appliances. (On the not so bright side, I may have many, many more days to continue this creativity).

I have made:

Hot dogs on the George Foreman Grill

Baked potatoes in the microwave

Pot roast in the crock pot

Pea soup in the crock pot

Mushroom dumplings in the rice steamer

Sesame green beans in the electric skillet

Vegetable lo mein in the electric skillet. I even boiled the noodles in that skillet!

Spicy tofu in the electric skillet

Couscous in the electric tea kettle

English muffins on the electric griddle

Veggie burgers in the electric skillet

Chick pea chili in the crock pot

(It may be possible that I have too many kitchen appliances.)

My friends have been following along, asking about the "small kitchen appliance of the day" and suggesting that I start a new blog. I do not have time for another blog, but I figured I could carve out time for one post about my cooking adventures.

Tonight's "kitchen appliance of the day" was the toaster oven. I made deep dish pizza in an 8x8 pan.

If this is something that you might like to make, here are the ingredients. Note: I don't really use recipes, so everything is approximate. Sorry.

Matthew is graduating from high school in 2012. Yes, over a year away. His quilt top has been done for over a year, so I just decided to quilt it up on a recent snowy day. Which snowy day? I cannot remember -- there have been too many!

In case you are experiencing deja vu, I have made several quilts like this.

A close-up of the quilting reveals "Elements":

Let's hope Matthew finishes the 11th and 12th grades, and that I can find the quilt by the time he graduates!

Friday, February 04, 2011

My husband is one of five cousins, all male. There are about fifteen years between the oldest and the youngest. My husband (and I) got married twenty-some years ago, and another cousin got married about ten years ago. The other three? They all got married in the last eight months.

Aaron and Kristin were the last to marry and I finished their quilt in time for the wedding. I am as shocked as you are.

A close-up of the quilting:

There are five cousins in the next generation (so far). My son is already married. My daughter has the rest of college, grad-school and possibly a PhD before she'll think of marriage (she says). The other three cousins are all under seven years old. I think I have some time before this side of the family requires more wedding quilts. Maybe I can sneak a nap in somewhere?

Thursday, February 03, 2011

No, but there is something new about my blog. I've joined the Quilt Teacher Blog Ring. Since a lot of you are snowed in, grab a cup of tea and click on the link on my sidebar and check out the blogs of other quilt teachers!